Johannesburg - Makaziwe Mandela and her niece Ndileka held a sensitive meeting at the end of last month with officials from the SABC and the presidency over broadcasting rights for former president Nelson Mandela's eventual funeral.
The Sunday Independent reported that the meeting was convened to discuss the coverage of Mandela’s funeral, of which the SABC is the official broadcaster. However the Mandelas demanded that CNN be given “preferential” access and status throughout.
One of the officials that attended the meeting slammed the conversation as “inappropriate” coming from family members about a “funeral deal concerning one of their own”.
“We are aggrieved and understandably so,” said the official. “But there appears to be little we can do as the family appears to have their own plans.”
Another official said “this wasn’t a request. It was a demand. The CNN deal seems to be done and dusted”.
On Monday, CNN released a statement saying "there is absolutely no truth to the allegation that CNN has bought the rights to the Mandela funeral".
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